Posted on 12/27/2006 11:05:07 AM PST by Roberts
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Comedian Chevy Chase, who became famous in the 1970s portraying Gerald Ford as an amiable klutz, praised the former president on Wednesday and said they later became friendly in spite of the biting comedy routines.
Chase, 63, was an original cast member on the trend-setting late-night comedy television show "Saturday Night Live" and frequently opened the show pretending to be Ford stumbling and falling. The parody in 1975-6 helped reinforce a popular image about Ford's clumsiness, even though the president had been a star athlete in college.
"He had never been elected period, so I never felt that he deserved to be there to begin with," the actor said about Ford, who died on Tuesday at age 93. "That was just the way I felt then as a young man and as a writer and a liberal."
"Later on we became friends and he was a very, very sweet man," Chase said in a telephone interview from a Colorado ski resort. "He took my wife and I on a whole lovely trip through Grand Rapids to show us where he had been as a child and what not. We kept in touch and he was just a terrific guy."
Chase, who has since starred in many film comedies, said Ford helped boost his career, but said another politician could have just as easily become the comedic punching bag in such politically turbulent times.
Chase was initially hired as a writer, not an actor but the humor he wrote mocking Ford helped change that.
"I wrote all those Gerald Ford jokes and (producer) Lorne (Michaels) put me on the air," he said. "Doing the stunt falls and stuff ... started me."
"As far as making my career, it could have been anybody who had been a Republican after Nixon and pardoned him."
Fortune City doesn't allow remote hosting, so no one can see the images you posted (except you). We just see the FC logo.
"Chevy, you couldn't tie Mr. Ford's shoes, even after the excuse wore off about being "a young man and a writer and a liberal".
AMEN...Chevy's 15 minutes of fame was over years ago....
"Chevy, you couldn't tie Mr. Ford's shoes, even after the excuse wore off about being "a young man and a writer and a liberal".
AMEN...Chevy's 15 minutes of fame was over years ago....
when did Carson say this ? Chevy is repulsive to me.
( I loathe forced timing in humor)
Yes, but at one time he was young and a writer.
I love that movie.
Gerald Ford did once appear on Weekend Update (via satellite) to declare "I'm Gerald Ford, and you're not."
If you call 3-1 "even handed". But then compared to 10 to 1, maybe it is.
I Teevo Leno each night and often skip his monologue as it is both repetitious and slanted.
A rare moment of class from Chevy Chase.
I think it's more picking on whoever the President is. IIRC he was pretty rough on Clinton back in the day.
I think it's good that Chevy decided to come out with some kind words for President Ford. Shows he has a bit of class.
and a liberal."
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Libs hate the Constitution of the USA.
This just in. Chevy Chase's career is still dead.
lol
Chevy, if you're lucky, you've got about 30 more years. Try to use these next 30 to do something of a bit more substance than the last 30.
He has a bastard kid, and fawns over young hollywood girls.
He needs the Lord. IMO
Now THAT'S funny!
Ditto with Barbra Streisand. A political moron, with the voice of an angel. If only she'd "Shut Up And Sing"!
it ain't class on Chevy's part. It is a grab at the headlines is all
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